I still recall the day when William Harper, with a bitter spit, muttered, I took her, they say, as a wife, yet she cant cook a proper meal nor even wash a shirt properly. He was perched on a weatherworn log beside his neighbours cottage, his eyes downcast upon his own thatched dwelling, the very place where his young bride had once slept.
His neighbour, Nicholas Clarke, was fiddling with a wrench on his motorbike.
Mind you, Will, the weddings only just been celebrated. Let your wife have a little time to recover from the ceremony, Nicholas urged.
What? Im done with that wedding talk. She wore me out that day, William replied.
Wore you out? Nicholas asked with a sympathetic tone. How so?
William tossed the husk of a sunflower seed into the wind and frowned.
Right from the start she began to make a sport of it. When I first paid the dowry and came to her home, the whole yard bustled half a day with her nonsense, riddles that made no sense, and even a gypsy dance she forced me to join. My new trousers tore from the strain. My own father had given me those breeches, so I married in them. By the time I reached her bedroom Id walked through a dozen circles of hell, and sheshe was gone! She leapt out the window and fled. The whole village hunted for her half a day, only to find her laughing, saying shed changed her mind. Yet when I trampled her bouquet she burst into tears, calling me a fool who didnt understand a joke.
At the ceremony she pretended to be a lady, looking as though I were forcing her into marriage. At the banquet she wouldnt let me touch her, fearing Id soil her dress. Shoo, William, she snapped, you’ve been eating fried fish, your fingers are filthy. My dress is costly; its not a napkin for you.
So, Nick, dont even start speaking of the marriage.
Nicholas set his wrench aside, stroked the hair under his flat cap and said, Well, Will, Ill stay silent. You know my sister, Edith, never caused such trouble.
Every womans a woman, but mine turned out a proper nightmare. Even now, I rise at dawn, do all the work, and she lies in bed! She wont even set the kettle.
Does she refuse to work?
Nicholas was taken aback. She wont look for a job. She says she needs rest after her studies. Her mother and my own mother quietly slip her money for hairpins, otherwise shed be a wreck on me.
Nicholas mused, then leaned close to his friend. Youre in a bad spot, Will. Youve taken a lazy woman; send her away before she bears children. Try your best
I never imagined the Chesters raised a lazy daughter. They all boasted that their Lucy was gold. Turns out it was a lie. Now they laugh, as if theyd thrown her overboard and left me to drift.
The village lay quiet by the gently murmuring river, crickets chirped among the grass, cows lowed now and then, a dog barked, and a rooster crowed at dawn. The occasional tractor and motorbike rattled over the dusty lane, the clatter of metal buckets echoing.
Colin! shouted Catherine Clarke from the cottage window, Dinners ready, come in.
Yes, Im coming, replied Nicholas, turning lazily to his wife, then, eyes on his motorbike, he quieted himself, listening to the lively happenings inside the newlyweds house through the open windows.
Will, peel the potatoes while I fetch the onions, sang the sweet voice of Lucy.
Why am I the one to peel the spuds? Thats a womans job, Nicholas heard Williams neighbour call out. Im already carving the chicken for you.
Ha, Nicholas chuckled, theyre only cooking the broth, while my stews already on the fire!
Im busy, the lads tender voice replied, Im untangling the hair curlers.
Ah, youll have to wait for me, Lucy!
Im trying to look pretty for you, not a drab old thing. When I curl my hair like this, I feel like a film star. Everyone says I look like a certain famous actress. You havent seen her yet? Ill show you; I even have videos and discs.
Nicholas shook his head, peering into the neighbours windows. What will she answer now? He tossed his motorbike aside, slipped quietly into the yard, and looked through the glass. Inside, Williams young wife twirled in the centre of the room, her hair piled high in a lavish wave. Nicholas frowned, scanning for William, who sat at the table, head bowed over a bowl.
Later, Nicholas ate his soup without appetite, glanced at his wifes satisfied face and sighed, Can you imagine, Kate, how theyve fooled Will?
What happened? Kate asked, surprised.
He married Lucy Chesters, who just came from the city.
I remember, Kate said, they said she was a teacherintraining but never finished her studies.
I recall her as a snotnose sort, a foolish girl, always thinking of dances and trinkets. And Willwhat a fooltook her in without a word of counsel. He could have married your sister, Martha, whos still single.
Kate turned her round, pancakeshaped face away. She didnt want to talk about her younger sister, Mabel. Mabel was plump and clumsy, much like Kate herself. In her youth Kate was thin and spry and wed Kolby before she grew heavy; Mabel, however, had always been a chubby child.
Years passed and both sisters now looked alikesmall, round, like dumplings.
In the neighbours house the music blared, a womans laughter filled the air. Nicholas lifted his eyebrows and went to the windows, watching. He lingered, shook his head.
Will? he called, finding his neighbour in the garden, tending tomatoes in a greenhouse.
Whats the matter, Nick?
Whats all this ruckus in your house? Such a din in the middle of the day, echoing through the village?
Its Colin, my friend Lucy has come over from town. Shes a noisy sort, got the gramophone going.
Nicholas glared at William, How long will you endure this nonsense, Will? Youre toiling in the field, while your wife, instead of taking charge, just laughs. Shes become brazen!
William stared back, What can I do if shes like this? If it brings her joy, let her be.
Shes no longer a child to be playing about! Shes wed, a future mother, a keeper of the hearth! She must be put in her place, her friend sent away, the record player tossed out the windowno more coddling! As for me, I have no friends for my wife, no one to keep her occupied but knitting socks!
Williams face fell. Go on, Nick, tell your wife what to do. Ill sort my own affairs.
The next day rain fell nonstop, the sky a leaden blanket, offering no sunshine. Nicholass wife Kate settled at the stove to make jam, while Nicholas prowled from corner to corner.
Bored, arent you, Kate?
Go fetch mushrooms. Put on your raincoat; fresh ones appear after a downpour, she suggested.
No, I dont want to go alone.
Then call William.
Nicholas sighed, Oh dear, hell be angry with me.
He gazed out the window and saw William approaching, a sack in his hand.
Good day, neighbours, William said, entering with a creak of the door.
Nicholas stepped forward. Colin, Ive brought some smoked trout I prepared myself. Have a taste.
Nicholass frown melted into a smile. Thats splendid; I love fish. Shall we have tea in the kitchen?
Yes, lets.
The men sat in silence for a while. Finally, Nicholas asked, Hows the married life? Did your guest leave?
Shes gone, William answered.
Nicholas crumpled a newspaper, resumed his work. Youre treating your wife badly, Will. Whats she up to now?
Lucy? Shes gone to the shop.
And what will she buy there? Nicholas asked, shaking his head. A sack of dumplings and some lipstick, perhaps? My Kate once saw your wife at the counter, ordering all sorts of cosmetics. At least bring home a biscuit for the family, not just shampoos and colours.
Kate, standing by the stove, fell silent, her head bowed.
Let her buy what she likes. Shes vain, William muttered.
Why?
Nicholas pressed, Weve decided, Kate and I, that our women should be friends. My Kate will have a good influence on yoursteach her to keep the house tidy and cook properly, rather than frolicking over nothing.
Lucy, we need to talk, William said.
Whats that, my dear? his wife turned, breath taken away by his words.
Lucy youre so beautiful. What have you done to yourself? I cant understand.
Lucy had transformed: her thick auburn hair dyed snowy white, lashes lengthened, eyebrows defined.
Do you like it? she beamed.
Indeed youre a different woman. Once pretty, now a true beauty.
Its because my friend Tina, a salon worker, helped medid my lashes, brows, hair.
Lucys neighbour, Kate, cheered, Why not? Im all for it. Ill go to her house now.
The young wife scented herself with cloying perfume, making Williams nose twitch. She slipped into a fine dress, painted her lips, and left.
She returned later, subdued, serious. She shed the dress, slipped into a nightgown, washed her face clean, bundled her luxurious hair into a knot.
Will, she sat on the edge of the sofa where he rested, youve been complaining to the neighbours about me, havent you?
What?
Yes, Ive heard everything If youre dissatisfied, say so! Stop blaming others, Will
She broke down, crying, her face buried in her hands. From that day she changed abruptly. She stopped gazing at herself in the mirror, took up the household chores, baked pies, ran to the neighbours house daily, returned with a gloomy look, muttering in thought. Her smile and cheer vanished. No longer did a womans laugh echo in Wills home, nor did music play.
Then she fled. Will rose early, found his wife missing from the bed, absent from the house and yard, only a note on the door:
Will, Ive thought it over Ive become a terrible wife. You keep nagging, complaining to the neighbours about how hard it is with me. I cant go on. Lets part. Dont look for me; you wont find me. Farewell.
What on earth? Lucy, my Lucy! Will wailed.
Nicholas was the first to rush to his friends side. She ran off, let her. Shes a tumbleweed, a wild thing. No wonder she doesnt like village life; shell go to the townthings are brighter there. I told you shed be a bad wife; I was right. Dont worry, Will, well find you a proper, hardworking wife.
At that moment, the neighbours wife, Kate, burst into Wills cottage with a pot, not alone but with her younger sister, the roundcheeked Mabel.
Mabel, youre not a wife? Nicholas joked. Will scowled, turned his face away.
Nicholas stared out the window at the neighbours house, frowning, Why cant he stay at home? I have no one to fish with. Kate!
What are you shouting about? Kates voice rose from the kitchen, displeased.
Lately the marriage had become as if a black cat had crossed their path: the bond between the neighbours crumbled after Lucys escape, and Kates temperament changed, worrying Nicholas.
Whats this, Kate? Cant you manage without me? Youve dumped all the housework onto meno breath, no rest.
Nicholas hurried into the kitchen, Why are you so tired?
Kate looked at him, Am I not a person in your eyes? A workhorse? Im a woman, Colin. I want perfume, lipstick I want to see myself in a mirror, go to town, try on dresses
So, Nicholas understood, the winds blowing from Lucys side.
Its not Lucys fault, Kate sighed. I cant see a life with you, Colin. I stand by the stove, tend the livestock When was the last time I danced? At our schools graduation, with you. Oh, Colin
Will returned to the village, pleased, and quickly set about nailing windows and doors in his house. Nicholas, hearing the hammer, rushed over.
What are you doing, Will?
Nicholas halted at the gate, eyes wide. Im moving, neighbour.
Where to?
Nicholass mouth fell open. Im Colin, Im moving to the town centre. They have a club, a café, a place to take a wife.
What about your wife? Lucy fled.
Ive found her
Will turned to his neighbour, grinning broadly. Ive found my Lucy. Shes got a job in the town centre, rented a little house. Im going to join her.
Nicholas was stunned, his shout turning to a cry. Are you mad, Will? You trusted that reckless woman! How will you live with such a foolish one? You said you married on impulse, tired of her whims Youll return without your trousers, without a wife! Dont be foolish; listen to me. Throw those foolish thoughts away and take my sister, Mabel. Shell make soups, bake pies, wash shirts
Will laughed, shaking his head. Happiness isnt in pies; its in a beloved woman, Colin. We may eat readymade meals, but she, my beauty, will be beside me. What I said before mattered little. I was wrong, but now I see.
Nicholas kept shouting, begging his friend to come to his senses, but Will only laughed. He finished his work and left.
What a fool, Nicholas muttered, shaking his head. He married a clueless woman and became the same. Its a sad pairtwo shoes, one pair.
Nicholas returned home, sighing, and saw Kate on the porch, clutching a suitcase.
What are you doing here? he asked, bewildered.
Its me, Colin. Ive had enough. Im leaving you.
Where to?
Kates eyes filled with tears; she dropped her head onto her chest and wept, Where do you see, Colin? I cant picture my life with you. Ill go to the town centre, find work! Im tired of toiling for you! I want freedom, like Lucy Oh dear, Colin.
She sobbed loudly. Nicholas gently lifted the suitcase from her hands, embraced her trembling form.
She should have said so, Kate
He sighed, Shed have said shes tired, knocked the table with her fist Did I not hear you, Kate?
Old stereotypes cracked in Nicholass mind, the weight of years pressing down.
